Is It Fair That 'Community' Can Win an Emmy in an Animation Category?

Some of the biggest names in animation, including Seth MacFarlane and Matt Groening, have sent a strongly-worded letter to the Television Academy, complaining that “cartoons” should be allowed to compete in “both traditional comedy and animation [writing] categories,” according to EW. As the rule stands now, they can only do the latter, and MacFarlane & Co. are crying foul that an episode of “Community,” “Digital Real Estate Planning” (written by “Simpsons” writer Matt Warburton), successfully submitted to both.

Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”), David X. Cohen (“Futurama”), and Al Jean (“The Simpsons”) are among the 52 writer-producers who signed a letter to the TV Academy arguing that it’s not fair that “Community” writers can submit their work in both traditional comedy and animation categories. Animated writers have long been told they can only submit episodes for animated writing slots, which are handed out during the less glamorous Creative Arts ceremony instead of the major prime-time telecast. (Via)

The thing that I find amusing about all this is if MacFarlane and Groening get their way and animation shows are allowed to compete for traditional writing awards, which they should, then the wrong shows would still be nominated, just in a different category. In a just world, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series would include episodes from “Community,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Archer,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and take your pick with two other shows — “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” don’t deserve a regular writing award, just as they don’t deserve an animation writing award. Instead of complaining about dumb Emmy rules, why not make your shows better?

They make a good point that last year they were told Community was granted a one time exemption, then this year they were granted another exemption. Just seems like bullshit reasoning on the academy’s part.

I also like the comment on the original article that Community should be classified as a variety show anyways.

I don’t know, sometimes even if it’s not relevant, dumb rulers and the people who make them should be reminded that they’re ideas are still pretty dumb. Know what I mean? And while The Simpsons and Family Guy could just “get better” they are still attempting to get awards from an increasingly senile and hostile group of old people, for their show that is clearly focused on capturing the 13-20 male focus groups… They’re just not relevant. P.S. on The Simpsons, even if they were able to put out an outstanding season on par with seasons 4-10, any award would just be a token “lifetime” award to them. They should really just enjoy the fact that they help usher in this amazing era of TV.

They finally got Animated movies into the Best Picture race so I see no reason for animated tv shows to be any different. They’ll still lose, but there’s no reason they can’t play. (See: Miami Dolphins)

If they’re gonna bitch about it, then I say give them two options:
-They can keep their animation categories, wherein they’ve got pretty good odds of being nominated, and an outside chance of winning, or…
-They can be brought into the fold with the regular comedy categories, but the animated categories get expunged, since there’s no point to them if those shows are just normal comedies. Perhaps replace those categories with a “best animation” category that only evaluates aesthetics.

Seems everyone likes to hate on Family Guy these days. I won’t say it’s a great show, or used to be even as good as the heyday of The Simpsons, but I still find it entertaining. And I even have all my teeth and live in a real house!

If you look at the list of people who signed you’ll notice 2 names missing. The only 2 names that have an animated show still worth watching. Coincidence? I think not. I’m with this guy, maybe these assholes should put less time into complaining who gets a handjob on stage and more time making their shows funny again.